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EVALUATION OF PORE PRESSURES BENEATH AN EMBANKMENT

EXCESS PORE PRESSURES MEASURED DURING CONSTRUCTION OF A HIGHWAY EMBANKMENT ON A DEEP DEPOSIT OF SOFT TO MEDIUM CLAY ARE EVALUATED. SEVERAL METHODS FOR PREDICTING INITIAL EXCESS PORE PRESSURES ARE EXAMINED, INCLUDING A RECENTLY DEVELOPED METHOD THAT CONSIDERS THE EFFECTS OF LOCAL YIELD WITHIN THE FOUNDATION SOIL. UNDRAINED SHEAR STRENGTHS OBTAINED FROM THE FIELD PORE PRESSURE DATA ARE COMPARED TO STRENGTHS MEASURED IN LABORATORY SHEAR TESTS AND FIELD VANE TESTS. METHODS FOR USING PIEZOMETER DATA TO ESTIMATE EMBANKMENT STABILITY DURING CONSTRUCTION ARE DISCUSSED. /TRRL/